IllustrationHEAD LIGHT TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. THEY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAD TO HAVE MY BIKE TOWED. *TR
2004 Big Dog Chopper
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Chopper years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
2 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE CHOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V180000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2006, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER AND …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE CHOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V180000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2006, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND BOTH ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE MOTORCYCLE THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 11/16/10*BF UPDATED 11/23/10*JB
Official recalls
110V180000 · Electrical System
May 3, 2010
BIG DOG IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2004 CHOPPER, BULLDOG, RIDGEBACK, MASTIFF, BOXER, AND PITBULL MOTORCYCLES. THERE IS A POSSIBLE LOOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AND THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROLLER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO VARIOUS COMPONENTS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A LOSS OF HEADLAMP FUNCTION OR A VEHICLE STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: BIG DOG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-219-9121.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ10002 · Motorcycle Stalling
Opened Jan 27, 2010 · Closed May 10, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:wiring
This RQ was opened based on seemingly related owner complaints involving motorcycles outside the scope of 06V-301.During the course of subsequent discussions with the company, we learned that the earlier model year Big Dogs had a problem with the electronic harness control module connector that they'd previously addressed with a TSB.Since the TSB addressed a safety-related issue (stalling), Big Dog agreed to recall the motorcycles subject to the TSB (10V-180).With that decision, ODI agreed to waive requiring a response to its information request and is now closing this RQ.